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One soldier said to Androcles, "Your punishment is to fight a hungry lion!"

It was the custom in Rome at that time to entertain the people with battles fought on the sandy floor of the arena, which was circled by rows and rows of seats.

The soldiers took Androcles to a prison under the arena seats. Then they left him alone in his prison cell. Androcles had never felt so scared or so alone. It was a long time before the soldiers came back for Androcles.

Suddenly, Androcles heard a trumpet blast. Then the bars to Androcles' prison were opened. A soldier took Androcles and pushed him onto the field.

Androcles found himself alone in the middle of the huge arena. Hundreds of people were watching him, waiting for the battle to begin. Androcles noticed a large cage at the end of the field. When a lion's roar sounded throughout the arena, the people grew excited.

The trumpet sounded a second time, and the bars to the lion's cage were opened. In a moment, a lean lion bounded out of the cell, roaring with hunger. The people sitting in the arena shouted, "Hooray!" The crowd sounded like a mighty roar to Androcles.

The lion crouched only for a moment, but in that moment Androcles recognized his friend from the forest.

The lion let out another thundery roar and bounded across the arena in three long leaps. He stopped right in front of Androcles and gently lifted his big paw.

Androcles gave a mighty shout of joy. "Lion, you remember me!" he cried. He took the lion's paw in his hand and patted it lovingly. Then the lion rubbed his great head against the young man's shoulder. Androcles scratched the lion behind the ears, just as he had done at home in their forest cave.

The crowd of people in the arena was stunned into silence. They had never seen anything like this in the arena before. As the crowd sat in silence, Androcles and his best friend began to frolic and play. Everyone turned to each other and started talking at once. They wanted to know what this boy's secret was for taming the ferocious lion.

The Emperor, who watched every game in the arena, motioned for the crowd to be quiet. Then he called Androcles to approach him and his royal subjects.

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Friendship

Androcles and the lion make an unlikely pair, but their friendship proved to be strong and true. When Androcles removed the thorn from the lion's paw, a friendship based on trust and compassion was born. It was this strong bond that kept the lion from attacking Androcles in the arena.

s are best when they are based on trust. Friends should be caring and thoughtful to one another. Do you have a best friend? What do you like best about your friend? What do you think he or she likes best about you?